The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified insecurity and limited healthcare access as critical factors contributing to the rise of polio variants in Africa.
Marking World Polio Day on October 24, Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, pointed out that while there have been encouraging developments, challenges remain.
In a positive note, Madagascar has gone a full year without detecting the Circulating Variant Poliovirus Type 1, and Southern Africa has successfully contained an outbreak of imported wild poliovirus type 1 that was declared in 2022.
The collaborative efforts of countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, and their neighbors have played a vital role in this progress.
However, polio variants continue to pose a threat, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel regions, where the transmission of circulating variant polio type 2 is ongoing.
Recent data shows that as of September 5, 2024, 134 cases of polio type 2 have been reported across Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria.
Moeti emphasized the need for increased political commitment and vigilant surveillance, particularly in underserved areas, to combat these challenges effectively. She called for enhanced community engagement, especially in regions impacted by insecurity or mistrust.
Community health workers have been crucial in delivering vaccines and must be supported with adequate resources and training to ensure the safety of children through vaccination campaigns.
